Solutionary Rail

05/29/2026

LA to Barstow,
Freight Pollution
Has Got To Go!

05/28/2026

Some photos and video from our recent actions with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, the Impact Project, MFN, and residents of Barstow.

05/28/2026

Great analysis of today's STB decision regarding the UP/NS merger application. https://open.substack.com/pub/railpassengers/p/surface-transportation-board-freezes

The Surface Transportation Board today formally accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s revised merger application — but only in the narrowest procedural sense imaginable.

05/13/2026

Rose is right. And, US railroads need to be electrified, starting with rail yards that concentrate pollution in communities. If Wall St controlled railroads won't allow RRs to invest in growth, there's no path to electrification within the current paradigm. So, it's time for a paradigm shift.

TROY, Mich. — Wall Street’s focus on ultra-low operating ratios has stifled Class I railroad volume growth and is a threat to the industry’s future, retired BNSF Railway CEO Matthew K. Rose told a conference today. “We have allowed short-term investment thinking to creep into this industry l...

05/12/2026

We just published Episode 5 of the Reconnect America audio documentary. It is increasingly clear that harnessing the US rail infrastructure to solve problems, spread benefits and reduce harm is in the public and national interest. But in order to propose a viable vision for the future, it is imperative to understand the past. That's why we've undertaken this deep dive.

E5 takes listeners from the 1980 Staggers Act and the pivot to neoliberal policies it was a reflection of, the immediate impacts of deregulation and ripple effects through the early 2000's. We ask questions few are willing to ask. What was gained? What was lost? And, was the core problem actually addressed, or simply kicked down the road of time for a future generation to grapple with?

FYI - E6 will be coming soon as we originally tried to present 1980 to the present, but it was simply too much. Please don't squander the opportunity to take advantage of our work. At the very least, listen to the main episodes 1 through 5. I promise that you will not be disappointed. If you want to understand US rail transportation in order to shape the future, a better, more accessible synopsis doesn't exist.

Gratitude to all the folks who allowed us to interview and learn from them. And a special note of gratitude and congratulations to my colleague Sasha Elenko for his incredible work, research and writing.

How deregulation reshaped the U.S rail system to keep it in private hands, fueling globalization and leaving smaller shippers and communities behind.

05/12/2026

Full episode out now! (More listening options below):
https://solutionaryrail.substack.com/p/episode-5-profitability-at-any-cost

Episode 5 of Reconnect America, “Profitability at Any Cost: The Price We Paid to Rescue U.S. Railroads”, explores how deregulation reshaped the U.S rail system to keep it in private hands, fueling globalization, leaving smaller shippers and communities behind, and paving the way for a predatory Wall Street takeover whose consequences are still playing out today.

Listen, like, share, and subscribe on your favorite platform:

SR Website
https://www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastepisode5
Substack
https://solutionaryrail.substack.com/p/episode-5-profitability-at-any-cost
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reconnect-america/id1762542286?i=1000767368923
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ITsX4ISGqWf5PbBy9F8ty
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWAgZ0Ekis

04/22/2026

Fantastic piece on co-lation of transmission on rail corridors. Check it out!

Why can't America build the transmission lines we need?

04/22/2026

Check out Greed without Guardrails! Arnav Rao is brilliant! If you agree that the US needs to get more from our rail infrastructure, dissecting the history of the system and our nation's peculiar approach is critical to making better choices in the future. Check out this interview and our entire Reconnect America podcast.

Forward Together!

Bill

How deregulatory extremism destroyed competition and abandoned public protection

04/20/2026

RSVP at solutionaryrail.org/2026_0422

02/21/2026

It was a honor and pleasure to meet and interview Jess Conard of East Palestine, OH. Her experience of avoidable tragedy and an unaccountable corporate railroad is propelling her into action to help others protect their communities. Check out this preview as we work toward releasing the full interview soon.

Check out our here:
https://solutionaryrail.substack.com/p/preview-organizing-for-community